ASTM_D_5511_-_12.pdf

Designation:D551112Standard Test Method forDetermining Anaerobic Biodegradation of Plastic MaterialsUnder High-Solids Anaerobic-Digestion Conditions1This standard is issued under the fixed designation D5511;the number immediately following the designation indicates the year oforiginal adoption or,in the case of revision,the year of last revision.A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.Asuperscript epsilon()indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.1.Scope1.1 This test method covers the determination of the degreeand rate of anaerobic biodegradation of plastic materials inhigh-solids anaerobic conditions.The test materials are ex-posed to a methanogenic inoculum derived from anaerobicdigesters operating only on pretreated household waste.Theanaerobic decomposition takes place under high-solids(morethan 30%total solids)and static non-mixed conditions.1.2 This test method is designed to yield a percentage ofconversion of carbon in the sample to carbon in the gaseousform under conditions found in high-solids anaerobic digesters,treating municipal solid waste(1,2,3,4).2This test methodmay also resemble some conditions in biologically activelandfills where the gas generated is recovered and biogasproduction is actively promoted by inoculation(for example,codeposition of anaerobic sewage sludge,anaerobic leachaterecirculation),moisture control(for example,leachaterecirculation),and temperature control(for example,short-term injection of oxygen,heating of recirculated leachate)(5,6,7).1.3 This test method is designed to be applicable to allplastic materials that are not inhibitory to the microorganismspresent in anaerobic digesters operating on household waste.1.4 Claims of performance shall be limited to the numericalresult obtained in the test and not be used for unqualified“biodegradable”claims.Reports shall clearly state the percent-age of net gaseous carbon generation for both the test andreference samples at the completion of the test.Furthermore,results shall not be extrapolated past the actual duration of thetest.1.5 The values given in SI units are to be regarded as thestandard.1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of thesafety concerns,if any,associated with its use.It is theresponsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.Specific hazards aregiven in Section 8.NOTE1This test method is equivalent to ISO 15985.2.Referenced Documents2.1 ASTM Standards:3D618 Practice for Conditioning Plastics for TestingD883 Terminology Relating to PlasticsD1293 Test Methods for pH of WaterD1888 Methods Of Test for Particulate and Dissolved Matterin Water(Withdrawn 1989)4D2908 Practice for Measuring Volatile Organic Matter inWater by Aqueous-Injection Gas ChromatographyD3590 Test Methods for Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen in WaterD4129 Test Method for Total and Organic Carbon in Waterby High Temperature Oxidation and by CoulometricDetectionE260 Practice for Packed Column Gas ChromatographyE355 Practice for Gas Chromatography Terms and Relation-ships2.2 APHA-AWWA-WPCF Standards:2540 D Total Suspended Solids Dried at 103105C52540 E Fixed and Volatile Solids Ignited at 550C5212 Nitrogen Ammonia52.3 ISO Standard:6ISO 13641-1 Water qualityDetermination of inhibition ofgas production of anaerobic bacteriaPart 1:General testISO 15985 PlasticsDetermination of the ultimate anaero-bic biodegradability and disintegration under high-solids1This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee of D20 onPlastics and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D20.96 on Environmen-tally Degradable Plastics and Biobased Products.Current edition approved May 1,2012.Published June 2012.Originallypublished as D5511 94.Last previous edition D5511 11.DOI:10.1520/D5511-12.2The boldface numbers is parentheses refer to a list of references at the end ofthe text.3For referenced ASTM standards,visit the ASTM website,www.astm.org,orcontact ASTM Customer Service at serviceastm.org.For Annual Book of ASTMStandards volume information,refer to the standards Document Summary page onthe ASTM website.4The last approved version of this historical standard is referenced onwww.astm.org.5Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater,17th Edition,1989,American Public Health Association,1740 Broadway,New York,NY 10018.6Available from American National Standards Institute(ANSI),25 W.43rd St.,4th Floor,New York,NY 10036,http:/www.ansi.org.Copyright ASTM International,100 Barr Harbor Drive,PO Box C700,West Conshohocken,PA 19428-2959.United States1 anaerobic-digestion conditionsMethod by analysis ofreleased biogas3.Terminology3.1 DefinitionsDefinitions of terms applying to this testmethod appear in Terminology D883.3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:3.2.1 methanogenic inoculumanaerobically digested or-ganic waste containing a high concentration of anaerobicme